GERMINATION OF SEEDS. 227 



those in the growing plant, is not quite satisfactory. For 

 Kossel has shown that boiling water decomposes nucleins 

 gradually, so that the bases found may have been formed in 

 the preparation of the extracts. But it has been ascer- 

 tained that the lecithins of many seeds diminish during 

 germination, whereas cholin and phosphates increase, in- 

 dicating decomposition of the former. It may be that the 

 phosphorus of the lecithins is derived from nucleins, and 

 since nucleins are not rapidly decomposed through boiling 

 water, there is a probability that the proteids of the reserve- 

 organs are utilised during germination. 



Salts of ammonium are only formed in small amount 

 and do not appear to play any part in the hydrolysis and 

 metastasis of proteins. The same is true of nitrates, which 

 are not normal constituents of germinating seeds. 



Although the nitrogenous compounds are subjected to 

 such considerable alteration during germination, it has been 

 proved * that the N-content remains constant, so that there 

 can be no loss of nitrogen through excretion or formation 

 of volatile compounds. 



It has been assumed once or twice thus far, that the 

 proteinic chemolysis of germination is hydrolysis. The 

 assumption was, however, but an anticipation, for there 

 can be no doubt that the reserve-proteins are dissolved 

 through hydrolysis and not oxidation, or any other con- 

 ceivable process. The proof of this is deducible from the 

 following considerations : The artificial chemolysis of pro- 

 teins that gives rise to the various compounds mentioned 

 above is hydrolysis, the reaction being effected either 

 through heating the proteins .with strong hydrochloric acid 

 in the presence of stannous chloride, or through the action 

 of barium-hydroxide at high temperatures in a sealed tube. 

 But the products of the proteinic chemolysis of germination 

 are without exception also found among those resulting 

 from artificial proteohydrolysis. Although many compounds 

 that are produced in the artificial treatment have not yet 

 been demonstrated in seedlings, this does not prove that 



1 By Boussingault, Sachsse, Leclerc, Behrend and Wilsing, Schulze 

 and others. 



16 



